who is greater

hingis

henin

Justine won more majors and actually is a GOAT candidate on a surface (clay). during her peak years in 06 and 07 she was very hard to beat.

Hingis won 2 majors less but had a lot more weeks at 1 and the same number of total tournaments won. Hingis also flamed out very early while henin peaked in her mid 20s.

I have henin ahead comfortably. her peak suffered a little because it fell in the same time with some good years of serena who she could only dominate outside clay in 07 when serena was not really fit but on the other hand she was able to dominate serena on clay.

4 of her 6 wins against serena came on clay for a 4-1 record on clay including 2 FO wins which probably not many can say.

Henin of course. Hingis was great in her time. Craftiness made her a champion. On the other Henin was the one who can actually trash Serena (a soon to be GOAT candidate) on a consistent basis on red clay, much like Rafael is to Rodge. It's a shame, she didn't have a longer career.

It depends how much you value doubles. Purely on singles Henin easily. Both have three year end number 1s, but all of Henins are uncontroversial and deserved, while only 1 of Hingis is. Henin has 7 slams, and was more consistent for a longer period on top.

If you factor in doubles heavily it could be close as Hingis had a great singles and great doubles career.

The OP seems to be focusing more on who is better in a subjective sense than who is greater as she asks though. In that sense I would agree Henin. Hingis was a special player and a pleasure to watch but was simply underpowered in this era of players.

anyway, Hingis was a big star while Henin never achieved that dimension.

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yes but I think that was mostly due to henins quite plain looks and personality. I think even in belgium Kim was always more popular because she was that "happy girl" while henin always seemed to be a little bit withdrawn, almost coming across as sad.

I have read that she did not really have a nice childhood with her mother dying early and having trouble with her dad which might explain why she did come across like she did.

hingis on the other hand was really outspoken and also good looking albeit not always really nice. she was like the bratty hot daughter of the rich guy, really a prima donna girl.

yes but I think that was mostly due to henins quite plain looks and personality. I think even in belgium Kim was always more popular because she was that "happy girl" while henin always seemed to be a little bit withdrawn, almost coming across as sad.

I have read that she did not really have a nice childhood with her mother dying early and having trouble with her dad which might explain why she did come across like she did.

hingis on the other hand was really outspoken and also good looking albeit not always really nice. she was like the bratty hot daughter of the rich guy, really a prima donna girl.

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Yes, don´t know much about Henin but that is the image I got from her.And Martina had definitely a primma donna atittude, just like The Spicy Girl that she claimed to be.

Hingis' game never quite evolved enough to truly challenge those of her generation. Her knowledge of the game and court-savvy won her many matches but in the end, her playing style was one generation behind her contemporaries. She was limited by the same tactics which catapulted her in the late 90's.

vs.

Henin maximized her diminutive frame with athleticism and technical precision. Her one-handed backhand was a fierce weapon and is truly one of the best I've seen. She effectively challenged Serena Williams in grand slam events (winning record) and won more grand slam singles titles. She had the offensive weapons Hingis never developed.

Henin had to fight against peak Clijsters,Mauresmo,Sharapova and the 2 Williams and Martina had to contend with bit off peak Seles and Graf, Martinez,Novotna,Davenport,Capriati,Sanchez and the young Williams.I think it is pretty assumable that she had a tougher path than Henin ( who is a very solid player and champion, nothing against her)

Justine won more majors and actually is a GOAT candidate on a surface (clay). during her peak years in 06 and 07 she was very hard to beat.

Hingis won 2 majors less but had a lot more weeks at 1 and the same number of total tournaments won. Hingis also flamed out very early while henin peaked in her mid 20s.

I have henin ahead comfortably. her peak suffered a little because it fell in the same time with some good years of serena who she could only dominate outside clay in 07 when serena was not really fit but on the other hand she was able to dominate serena on clay.

4 of her 6 wins against serena came on clay for a 4-1 record on clay including 2 FO wins which probably not many can say.

unlike that hingis was not really a GOAT candidate on any surface.

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Even in her peak years (2003-07) Henin won only 10 of 16 clay tournaments. Although the clay competition was quite weak in those years (still better than today, though).
Not in the same ball park as Evert or Graf, IMO.

Yes, don´t know much about Henin but that is the image I got from her.And Martina had definitely a primma donna atittude, just like The Spicy Girl that she claimed to be.

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Henin reminds me very much of Steffi Graf. Both were great and fierce tennis players who reserved all their energy and focus for the tennis courts. Off court, they both came across as rather shy, aloof and withdrawn. Whilst both were admired and feared for their prowess on the courts, both were criticised for their looks (who can forget the notorious description of Graf as "a potato-faced German" by a leading Italian newspaper. Steffi never did. She never played in Italy again). This sort of things must have contributed to their shyness and wariness with the press and outsiders.

Hingis, on the other hand, reminds me a lot of Sharapova. Both attractive, extroverted, self-assured and charismatic women who were both popular favourites with the press and loved the limelight. Both had a definite prima-donnerish quality (witness Hingis stomping off the court in a fury after choking away a lead against Graf in the 1999 French Open final). Unlike Henin and Graf, both seemed to be as well-known off the court as on it. Perhaps for this reason, neither of them could quite match the other two in tennis prowess.

Henin reminds me very much of Steffi Graf. Both were great and fierce tennis players who reserved all their energy and focus for the tennis courts. Off court, they both came across as rather shy, aloof and withdrawn. Whilst both were admired and feared for their prowess on the courts, both were criticised for their looks (who can forget the notorious description of Graf as "a potato-faced German" by a leading Italian newspaper. Steffi never did. She never played in Italy again). This sort of things must have contributed to their shyness and wariness with the press and outsiders.

Hingis, on the other hand, reminds me a lot of Sharapova. Both attractive, extroverted, self-assured and charismatic women who were both popular favourites with the press and loved the limelight. Both had a definite prima-donnerish quality (witness Hingis stomping off the court in a fury after choking away a lead against Graf in the 1999 French Open final). Unlike Henin and Graf, both seemed to be as well-known off the court as on it. Perhaps for this reason, neither of them could quite match the other two in tennis prowess.

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:shock:
Graf criticised for her looks? Hingis attractive??
Graf has been in Vogue and SI Swimsuit Issue, was and still is among the very top in all most beautiful ever tennis player polls, is regarded as one of the sexiest players ever, had a huge male fan base.
I really don't know what you are talking about.

Well, there was that Italian article although I've tried googling for details but admit I can't find any reference to it, but I definitely remember reading about it and I've come across various references to her prominent nose over the years. As for Hingis, many people seem to find her attractive although personally, I find her smile to be a bit too wide and fake looking.

Graf has been in Vogue and SI Swimsuit Issue, was and still is among the very top in all most beautiful ever tennis player polls, is regarded as one of the sexiest players ever, had a huge male fan base.
I really don't know what you are talking about.

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Graf is a handsome woman no doubt but I wouldn't call her a beauty. Sabatini, Kournikova, Sharapova, Ivanovic, Julia Georges etc. I would call them beauties. But, in the end, beauty is subjective and in the eye of the beholder. I did not intend to cause you any offence and apologise if I have done so.

:shock:
Graf criticised for her looks? Hingis attractive??
Graf has been in Vogue and SI Swimsuit Issue, was and still is among the very top in all most beautiful ever tennis player polls, is regarded as one of the sexiest players ever, had a huge male fan base.
I really don't know what you are talking about.

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graf was (and still is) an attractive woman but some guys (even in germany) used to make fun of her quite big nose.

Well, there was that Italian article although I've tried googling for details but admit I can't find any reference to it, but I definitely remember reading about it and I've come across various references to her prominent nose over the years. As for Hingis, many people seem to find her attractive although personally, I find her smile to be a bit too wide and fake looking.

Graf is a handsome woman no doubt but I wouldn't call her a beauty. Sabatini, Kournikova, Sharapova, Ivanovic, Julia Georges etc. I would call them beauties. But, in the end, beauty is subjective and in the eye of the beholder. I did not intend to cause you any offence and apologise if I have done so.

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No need to apologize. I just was surprised! Of course there were and are always people who think a big nose ruins a woman's attractiveness. I don't think so. Depends on the nose. And of course depends on other female assets. Of whom Steffi had and still has a lot. That's why she had and has millions of male fans.

But to "criticise" someone because of an alleged lack of beauty, that would be the meanest and most stupid thing imaginable.

Henin reminds me very much of Steffi Graf. Both were great and fierce tennis players who reserved all their energy and focus for the tennis courts. Off court, they both came across as rather shy, aloof and withdrawn. Whilst both were admired and feared for their prowess on the courts, both were criticised for their looks (who can forget the notorious description of Graf as "a potato-faced German" by a leading Italian newspaper. Steffi never did. She never played in Italy again). This sort of things must have contributed to their shyness and wariness with the press and outsiders.

Hingis, on the other hand, reminds me a lot of Sharapova. Both attractive, extroverted, self-assured and charismatic women who were both popular favourites with the press and loved the limelight. Both had a definite prima-donnerish quality (witness Hingis stomping off the court in a fury after choking away a lead against Graf in the 1999 French Open final). Unlike Henin and Graf, both seemed to be as well-known off the court as on it. Perhaps for this reason, neither of them could quite match the other two in tennis prowess.

yes but I think that was mostly due to henins quite plain looks and personality. I think even in belgium Kim was always more popular because she was that "happy girl" while henin always seemed to be a little bit withdrawn, almost coming across as sad.

I have read that she did not really have a nice childhood with her mother dying early and having trouble with her dad which might explain why she did come across like she did.

hingis on the other hand was really outspoken and also good looking albeit not always really nice. she was like the bratty hot daughter of the rich guy, really a prima donna girl.